Surgical cassette with improved air filtering

ABSTRACT

A surgical cassette having a filter media sealingly disposed between a first rigid surface and a second rigid surface in a filter chamber of the cassette housing provides improved air filtering for the cassette.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally pertains to microsurgical systems and more particularly to surgical cassettes used in such microsurgical systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

During small incision surgery, and particularly during ophthalmic surgery, small probes are inserted into the operative site to cut, remove, or otherwise manipulate tissue. During these surgical procedures, fluid is typically infused into the eye, and the infusion fluid and tissue are aspirated from the surgical site. A surgical cassette, which is fluidly coupled to both the probe and a surgical system or console, manages the fluids infused into the eye and aspirated from the surgical site.

During ophthalmic surgery, pressurized air may be used for a variety of functions. Certain of these functions require sterile air to pressurize a surgical irrigating fluid that is infused into the eye. Conventionally, such pressurized air is provided by the surgical system to which a surgical cassette is fluidly coupled. To sterilize the pressurized air, standard medical grade air filters have been disposed within such surgical systems on pneumatic lines that are fluidly coupled to the surgical cassette when the cassette is disposed within the surgical system. Such standard air filters include a hydrophobic, micro-bacterial filter media installed within a plastic filter housing. The cost of the filter media installed in the housing is approximately ten times the cost of the filter media itself. Hydrophobic, micro-bacterial filter media have also been disposed directly into surgical cassettes between a portion of the rigid housing of the cassette and an elastomeric media that acts as an interface between the cassette and moving parts of the surgical system. However, such designs require gaskets or other components to effectively seal the filter media to the cassette.

Accordingly, a need continues to exist for improved air filter within a surgical cassette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a surgical cassette with an improved air filter. In one aspect, the cassette includes a cassette housing having a filter chamber with a first rigid surface, a second rigid surface, and a port for providing pressurized air to the chamber. A filter media is disposed within the chamber between the first rigid surface and the second rigid surface. The filter media is thermally sealed to either the first rigid surface or the second rigid surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view of a surgical cassette according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side, sectional view of the surgical cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top, sectional view of the surgical cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the area shown in circle A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the area shown in circle B in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the area shown in circle C in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, rear, perspective view of the cover of the surgical cassette of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. As shown in the Figures, ophthalmic surgical cassette 10 preferably includes a housing 11 having a cover 12 and a body 14. Both cover 12 and body 14 are preferably made of rigid plastic. Cover 12 preferably includes a handle 16 to facilitate disposal of cassette 10 into an ophthalmic surgical system (not shown). A rear wall 18 of body 14 is for operatively coupling with a surgical system. Although cassette 10 is described herein as an ophthalmic surgical cassette, cassette 10 may alternatively be utilized in connection with any surgical or medical system requiring fluid management.

As shown best in FIG. 3, rear wall 18 preferably includes ports 20, 22, and 24 that are fluidly coupled to chambers 26, 28, and 30, respectively. Ports 20, 22, and 24 are for fluidly coupling to fluid lines 32, 34, and 36 disposed in the surgical system and that provide pressurized air to chambers 26, 28, and 30. Chamber 26 is preferably formed by rear wall 18, side wall 38, and internal wall 40 of body 14. Chamber 28 is preferably formed by rear wall 18, internal wall 40, and internal wall 42 of body 14. Chamber 30 is preferably formed by rear wall 18, internal wall 42, and side wall 44 of body 14. A filter media 46 is disposed along a front surface 48 of walls 38, 40, 42, and 44 between body 14 and cover 12. Filter media 46 is preferably thermally sealed to body 14 along front surface 48. Filter media 46 is preferably a conventional hydrophobic, micro-bacterial filter that is typically used in standard medical grade filters. A preferred filter media is the VERSAPOR® membrane filter (0.8 micron) available from Pall Corporation. Cassette 10 preferably includes one or more fluid lines, passageways, and/or ports 50 fluidly coupled to each of chambers 26, 28, and 30 for providing pressurized air to other portions of cassette 10 and/or surgical handpieces (not shown) fluidly coupled to cassette 10.

As shown best in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, cover 12 preferably has a lip 60 disposed on its rear surface 61. Lip 60 enables cover 12 and body 14 to be fluidly sealed together, preferably via a shear weld along surfaces 62 and 64. As shown best in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, body 14 preferably has raised sealing surfaces 66 that interface with filter media 46 to seal media 46 between body 14 and cover 12. Cover 12 preferably has raised sealing surfaces 68 for interfacing with filter media 46 and internal walls 40 and 42 of body 14 to seal filter chamber 26 from filter chamber 28 and filter chamber 30 from filter chamber 28. Cover 12 also preferably has a plurality of sealing force directors 70 for interfacing with filter media 46 to seal media 46 between body 14 and cover 12.

From the above, it may be appreciated that the present invention provides improved air filtering in a surgical cassette. The present invention eliminates the need for filter housings used in standard medical grade air filters, substantially decreases the cost of air filtering in a surgical cassette, enables the production of multiple filter chambers at the same time, and requires no gaskets or other components to seal the filter media to the cassette.

The present invention is illustrated herein by example, and various modifications may be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, while the present invention is described above with filter media 46 being sealed between cover 12 and body 14 of cassette 10, filter media 46 may be sealed between any two rigid components of cassette 10, such as a pinch plate and a body. As another example, while the present invention is described above with filter media 46 being thermally sealed to only body 14, media 46 may also be thermally sealed to cover 12.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the apparatus and methods shown or described above have been characterized as being preferred, various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. A surgical cassette, comprising: a cassette housing having a filter chamber with a first rigid surface, a second rigid surface, and a port for providing pressurized air to said chamber; and a filter media disposed within said chamber between said first rigid surface and said second rigid surface and thermally sealed to one of said first rigid surface or said second rigid surface.
 2. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said filter media is a hydrophobic, micro-bacterial filter media.
 3. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said first rigid surface has a raised sealing surface for interfacing with said filter media to seal said filter media between said first rigid surface and said second rigid surface.
 4. The surgical cassette of claim 3 wherein said second rigid surface has a sealing force director for interfacing with said filter media to seal said filter media between said first rigid surface and said second rigid surface.
 5. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said second rigid surface has a sealing force director for interfacing with said filter media to seal said filter media between said first rigid surface and said second rigid surface.
 6. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said second rigid surface has a plurality of sealing force directors for interfacing with said filter media to seal said filter media between said first rigid surface and said second rigid surface.
 7. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said filter media is thermally sealed to both said first rigid surface and said second rigid surface.
 8. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said cassette housing has a fluid passageway fluidly coupled to said filter chamber and for fluidly coupling to a surgical handpiece.
 9. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein: said cassette housing comprises a body and a cover; and said first rigid surface is formed in said body, and said second rigid surface is formed in said cover.
 10. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein: said cassette housing comprises a pinch plate and a body; and said first rigid surface is formed in said pinch plate, and said second rigid surface is formed in said body. 